Machine for applying decalcomanias



June 13, 1950 w. A. SIMMONDS MACHINE FOR APPLYING DECALCOMANIAS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1947 /HVE 17 J-' M4 rsa/v SVM/vamos June 13, 1950 w. A. slMMoNDs MACHINE FOR APPLYING DECALCOMANIAS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1947 June 13, 1950 w. A. slMMoNDs MACHINE FOR APPLYING DCALCOMANIAS M m F w e D N m i M Filed May 22, 1947 June 13, 1950 w. A. SIMMONDS MACHINE FOR APPLYING DECALCOMANIAS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22, 1947 ,M wlw/v 9 5 y m W w ,011/ I Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE MACHINE Foa APPLYING DEoALcoMANIAs watson A. Simmonds, chicago, m. Application May z2, 194'7, serial No. 749,752

1a claims. (ci. 41-1) This invention relates to improvements in a machine for automatically applying decalcomanias to various articles. and more particularly to a machine for successively applying decalcomanias to a series oi' articles that may be fed to the machine in any desirable manner, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

It has become the practice to applydecalcomanias to many and various types of articles. These decalcomanias take the form of name plates, decorative seals, revenue stamps, and in many cases contain directions for use of the article. advertising, and various other writings. In the case where a decalcomania is placed upon an article by the manufacturer as a desideratum, no great loss is suffered if the decalcomania is ruined in an endeavor to apply it. However, material expense is experienced in the manual application of such a decalcomania because of the care and time consumed in properly placing it upon the article. In a case where a decalcomania is applied to an article by virtue of legal compulsion, such as where revenue stamps are required on packages of cigarettes, bottles containing alcoholic beverages, and the like, the seller not only suffers the extreme expense of hand application of the decalcomanias, but if any of those decalcomanias are destroyed during an eiortto apply them. the owner sulers the initial cost of that decalcomania, and that is a very material item where revenue stamps are concerned. The di!- fculty heretofore experienced in the application of a decalcomania by hand was twofold in character, in that it entails the danger of spoiling the decalcomania in its transfer from its carrying paper to the article, and then the danger of spoiling the decalcomania while it is properly and smoothly aiiixed to that article. Perhaps the greatest loss was entailed in the latter operation, because of the extreme fragileness of the decalcomania and the delicacy heretofore required in properly smoothing it down against a convex or curved surface. Even cigarette packages caused extreme difllculty by virtue of the resiliency of the package at the point where the decalcomania revenue stamp must be applied. Frequently the expense and losses entailed with the hand application of decalcomanias equalcd or exceeded the profit made upon the individual article to which a decalcomania was to be attached.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a machine for automatically and successively applying decalcomanias to articles in an accurate, positive and very rapid manner. y

Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine for successively applying decalcomanias to articles, wherein no instrumentality is brought into contact with the face oi the 2 decalcomania during the application of it to the article, but the decalcomania is effectively applied and smoothed into proper Iposition.`

It is also an object of this invention to provide .a machine of the character herein which rapidly and successively applies decalcomania to articles with the aid of fluid pressure.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a machine capable of simultaneously applying and smoothing a decalcomania on an article by way of a blast of compressed air.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the provision oi.' a machine capable of moistening a protective sheet of a decalcomania, stripping off the protective sheet or cover, and automatically applying the decalcomania to an article.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a' machine capable of handling a two-piece strip bearing a series of decalcomanias thereon in spaced relationship to each other over openings in the top piece of the strip, the machine removing a predetermined portion of the bottom piece of the strip and applying the decalcomania through theopening in the top piece of the strip onto an article.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a substantially continuously operating machine capable Aof handling elongated strips or sheets of decalcomanias, and automatically and economically removing each decalcomania from its carrier and applying it evenly and rapidly to an article.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view through the decalcomania strip itself;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the application of a single decalcomania to an article;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure seen in Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged part plan sectional, part elevational view taken substantially as indicated by the line V-V of Fig. 4 through a part only of the apparatus, looking in the direction of the arrows, but rotated Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line VI--VI of Fig. 4; and

Figure '1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the application mechanism as seen in the upper portion of Fig. 6 together with control mechanism therefor, this latter mechanism being illustrated to best disclose the operation, with certain parts of the mechanism disposed out of their proper location on the machine for purposes of clarity.

As shown on the drawings:

Most frequently, a machine embodying principles of the instant invention would be used for the application of only one size decalcomania to a certain series of like articles. Obviously, with adjustments apparent to one skilled in the art, such as the article holding cradle, and the size of the decalcomania applying mechanism, one machine could be made to serve as an applicator of differently sized decalcomanias to different articles, but that would be more infrequently done because where a considerable number of like articles must have decalcomania applied thereto, economy requires the utilization of a machine for the steady application of the same type of decalcomania to the same type of articles. With this thought in mind, the instant invention has been illustrated, by way of example and not by way of limitation, as applying decalcomanias in the form of revenue stamps to liquor bottles.

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is highly eilicient in the handling of a decalcomania assembly of the general character more fully set forth, described, and claimed in my copending application for patent entitled Decalcomania assembly and method of making the same, filed February 15, 1945, Serial No. 578,024, issued as Patent No. 2,424,508, July 22, 1947. For purposes of clarity, I will first describe the decalcomania assembly with particular reference to the showing in Figs. 1 and 2.

The decalcomania assembly includes a strip made up of two pieces of material. The top piece I is provided with a series of spaced openings 2 each substantially equivalent in size to the useful or applicable part of a decalcomania. The lower piece 3 of the composite strip is imperforate and of substantially the same width as the top piece, with the exception of a series of tabs 4 projecting beyond the top piece at one side of the composite strip. This bottom piece is preferably severed transversely so as to be divided into removable sections. each section underlying a predetermined number of decalcomanias. In the illustrated instance, in view of the fact that the illustrated machine applies only one decalcomania at a time, the understrip would be divided into sections wlth one section underlying each decalcomania.

As seen more clearly in Fig. 2, a decalcomania u l of decalcomania material adheres to the upper face of the upper piece I around the central portion I. The strip pieces may also be held together with the aid of a suitable soluble adhesive, if so desired or deemed necessary. Along each side thereof the composite strip is provided with a series of apertures I to permit advancement of the strip through the machine by sprocket wheels.

The composite decalcomania strip, which for purposes of clarity I have indicated generally by the strip is shown associated with the machine, may be fed from a rolled or folded supply, not shown in the drawings.

The machine itself includes an automatic drive and control mechanism, a combined protective sheet remover and decalcomania applying mechanism, a movable cradle for holding the article to which the decalcomania is applied, and a moistening mechanism to permit removal of the protective sheet or, in the illustrated instance, successive sections lof the bottom piece 2 of the composite decalcomania strip.

With reference more particularly to Figs. i and 4, it will be seen that the machine includes a base l having an upstanding panel Il at one end, and which is provided with a pair of opposed side frame constructions II. It will be understood that the base and side frames support suitable bearings for the various shafts, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art without specific mention of each bearing herein. In view of the fact that the bottom piece I of the composite decalcomania strip 2 is removed section by section during the operation, the drive is preferably located at the nish end of the machine, that is beyond where the decalcomanias have been applied so that the actual pulling wheels of the drive mechanism exert their pressure directly upon the upper piece I of the composite decalcomania strip. This drive mechanism includes a transverse drive shaft I2, which is initially driven from a motor diagrammatically indicated at I3 through a gear reduction box I4 and a chain and sprocket wheel connection I5. At each side of the machine, a suitable bevel gear connection I6 transfers the drive from the shaft I2 to a vertical shaft Il, and at the lower end of the shaft I1 another bevel gear connection Il establishes a drive for a longitudinally extending shaft Il mounted in suitable bearings carried on the base 9 of the machine. These shafts I2, I'l-I1, and I9I9, either directly move or control the operation of all moving parts of the machine.

Near the finish end of the machine is a pair of upper spaced sprocket wheels 20 mounted on a transverse shaft 2I and directly therebelow is a similar pair of sprocket wheels 22 carried on the transverse shaft 22. Spaced from these sprocket wheels 20 and 22 is a similar set of upper and lower pairs of idler sprocket wheels 2l in an intermediate position, and spaced still further toward the starting end of the machine is another set of upper and lower pairs of similarly mounted idler sprocket wheels 25. Over all of these sprocket wheels a belt 26 is trained, this belt acting as a supporting base for the composite decalcomania strip B after that strip has been moistened by means yet to be described. As seen more clearly in Fig. 3, the belt 26 is provided with suitable rows of driving apertures 21 for engagement with various sprocket wheels, and is also provided with a series of relatively large central apertures 2l for location beneath each individual decalcomania carried by the strip l.

It will be understood that the teeth of the vari ous sprocket wheels not only extend through the driving apertures 21 in the belt 2B, but also extend through the apertures 1 in the strip l so that the decalcomania strip is also directly driven. This drive of the strip l is intermittent, owing to the delay required for the application of each decalcomania, and the intermittent drive is eilected as seen more clearly in Figs. 4 and 7 by means of a dog 29 fixed to the shaft I2. This numeral 8 inthose ilgures of the drawing where 75 dog successively engages pins It projecting later.

ally from one of the upper sprocket wheels 23 so that each revolution of the shaft I2 advances the decalcomania strip 3 the proper distance to bring a following decalcomania into position for application, this distance corresponding to the spacing between the pins 33 on the sprocket wheel 23. As seen best in Fig. 7, the dog isprovided with a sloping and somewhat rounded nose 3l to permit ready disengagement from the respective pins 33.

As the decalcomania strip 3 enters the machine it first passes through a moistening mechanism which includes a carriage frame 32 slidable upon four spaced posts 33 mounted on the base 3. This frame 32 carries a liquid vat or container 34, a dipping roll 35 and a liquid applying roll 36. Disposed above the frame 32 is a second frame 31 also sldable on the posts 33 and which is normally urged downwardly by a relatively light weight spring 33 on the upper end of each post. This top frame 31 carries a pair of idler backing rolls 33 which afford suitable pressure for the soft surfaced applying roll 36 to squeeze moisture into the strip 3 to loosen sections oi' the bottom piece 3 from the decalcomania and the upper piece. The frame 32 is maintained in operative position by means of a suitable supporting cam 43 actuated manually by handlef4l so that the frame together with the applying roll may be dropped when desired to render the moistening apparatusl ineffective. The moistening mechanism is suiilciently close to the sprocket wheels 25 and belt 26 so that the bottom piece 3 of the strip will not become free from the decalcomania and top piece before the composite structure is riding upon the belt 26. lNo drive mechanism need be provided for the moistening means, all the rollers being freely mounted for rotation by virtue of the composite strip 3 being drawn between the backing rolls 33 and the applying roll 36.

As each separate decalcomania on the strip 3 reaches position for application to an article, means automatically remove the section of the lower piece 3 of the strip below that decalcomania. These means are best illustrated in Figs; and 6. These means include a transversely positioned cylinder block 42 having an extension 43 on each side thereof in each oi which is a bore 44. In that bore 44 is a piston 45 having an elongated shank 46 that extends through the inside end of the housing. Disposed around the shank 46 is a. spring 41 that constantly urges the respective piston toward the outer end of the block. At that outer end a dashpot delay mechanism is provided including a flap valve 43 having a relatively small aperture therethrough pivoted to the outside cover of the block, and the outside cover is provided with a relatively large opening 43. Consequently, the piston 45 may be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 against the action of the spring 41 relatively easily and rapidly by virtue y of the admission of air through the large opening 43, but on the return stroke, the valve 43 with the small aperture prevents a rapid discharge of air from the cylinder and delays the action of the piston.

The protruding ends of the piston shanks 46--46 carry a substantially Y-shape plate 53 thereon, this plate forming one jaw of the gripping means.

The central portion of the block 42 is provided with a cylinder or bore 5I in which aflarger sized piston 52 is disposed, this piston also having an elongated shank 53 which extends through the inner end of the block. 'I'he piston 52 is actuated by fluid pressure, compressed air being quite satisfactory for that purpose. An air line 54 enters the outer wall of the block behind the piston as seen clearly in Fig. 5 and when air is admitted through that line, the piston is driven to the left to assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6.

l Near the opposite end of the block an air line 55 communicates with the cylinder 5l, and when air enters through that line. the piston is driven in the opposite direction shown by the full lines in Fig. 6. The inner end of the shank 53 of the piston carries a depending plate 56 which is normally spaced away from the aforesaid plate 53 to provide a channel between the plates as indicated at 51 in Fig. 6.

With reference now to Fig. 1 it will be seen that there is a share 56, which is in the form of an angle, mounted along the upper stretch of the frame Il adjacent the path of travel of the projecting tabs 4 on the under piece 3 of the composite decalcomania strip. As the strip passesthis share, the tabs 4 are gradually bent upwardly so that these tabs successively enter the channel 51 between the gripping platesill and 56, as seen more clearly in Fig. 6. When the strip is advanced sufllclently to bring a new decalcomania into applying position, a charge of air is passed through the line 54 and the piston 52 is driven toward the left as viewed in Fig. 6. This causes the respective tab 4 to be gripped between the plate 55 carried by the piston 52 and the plate 53 which is spring biased in the opposite direction. As the piston 52 continues its movement to the left, the section 3a is withdrawn from the lower piece 3 of the composite strip 3 and this piece 3a is carried sufficiently far to clear the outer working mechanism of the machine, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. After the removal of the strip section 3a, air is admitted into the cylinder 5l through the line 55, and the piston is moved in the opposite direction. Owing to the above described dashpot arrangement associated with the pistons carrying the plate 50, the plate 56 will return much more rapidly than the plate 50, thus causing a separation between the plates permitting the removed section 3a of the decalcomania strip to gravitate downwardly into any suitable receptacle or disposal chute.

Preferably integral with the block 42 is a relatively large plate 53 provided with a slot 63 or rectangular opening into which the gripping plates 53 and 56 extend, and it is through that opening that the section 3a of the decalcomania strip is withdrawn.

This plate 53 is carried on a set of four uprights or posts 6I and on each post a spring 62 is disposed below the plate and a spring 63 above the plate. As best seen in Fig. 4, each post rides on an eccentric l64 fixed to the respective shaft I3. These eccentrics are so disposed that contemporaneously with the removaloi the strip section 3a, the entire plate together with the block 42 is dropped downwardly toward the decalcomania strip 3. As viewed in Fig. 4, the plate and block are in their uppermost position. The springs 62 and 63 provide in effect a floating mounting so that the plate and block are cushioned at all times when contacting the decalcomania strip.

With reference more particularly Yto Fig. 3 it will be seen that a. vertical cylindrical portion 65 joins the block 42 and plate 53, and this portion is internally bored to define an upright cylinder 66. A iiuid pressure line. such as a compressed air line 81, communicates with the upper portion of this cylinder. In the end of the cylinder is disposed a resilient bushing 88, preferably of rubber, the bushing being flanged externally of the plate 59. When the plate and block 42 are dropped by the eccentrica 84 as above explained, the lower portion of the bushing 88 comes to rest upon the decalcomania strip. 'I'he inside opening 89 of this bushing is shaped in accordance with the useful part or the applied part of a decalcomania carried by the strip. As indicated at in Fig. 3, the inside edge of the bushing extends downwardly farther than the iiange, and this edge 10 is preferably hardened so that when it contacts the decalcomania strip, the under section 3a now having been removed, it cuts through the border portion 8 of the decalcomania itself thus freeing the useful part of the decalcomania from the upper piece of the composite strip. Almost simultaneously with this operation, a blast of air enters the chamber l0 from the line 51 and blasts the decalcomania down upon an article through the aperture- 2 in the upper piece I of the decalcomania strip, and through the aperture 28 in the supporting belt, all as seen in Fig. 3.

In the illustrated showing, I have indicated the application of a decalcomania to a bottle for alcoholic liquor, and the bottle 1| will, of course, present a convex surface to the decalcomania. Nevertheless, by virtue of the blast of air in the chamber 6B, the decalcomania will be simultaneously applied to and smoothed on the bottle. By virtue of the seal effected by the rubber bushing 68, that blast of air will be amply sufilcient to not only force the decalcomania into contact with the bottle, but also to simultaneously smooth the decalcomania into proper position upon the bottle. It will be especially noted that no instrumentality actually contacts the useful portion of the decalcomania in this entire operation. There is, therefore, substantially no danger whatever of injury to the decalcomania during its application to the bottle or other object.

In the illustrated instance, the bottle 1| is carried on a two-part cradle, of which each half is complementa] to the other. This cradle is best seen in Figs. 4 and 6 and as seen in Fig. 4 the cradle comprises two complemental halves 12 and 18 each of which is carried on a transverse yoke 14 each end of which is connected to one of the shafts |9-|9 by means of a stirrup coupling 15 over an eccentric 16 (Fig. 6) on the shaft. As the shaft rotates inside the stirrup coupling 15, it alternately raises and lowers the entire cradle 12--13. This action occurs contemporaneously with the dropping of the block 42 and plate 59 so that when the decalcomania is applied to the bottle, the rubber bushing 69, decalcomania strip, belt 28, and bottle are all in superposed contacting relationship as seen in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 7 I have diagrammatically illustrated a control means by which the compressed air is applied to the respective locations at the proper times. For actuating the large piston 52 in the cylinder block 42 a solenoid actuated air valve generally indicated by numeral 11 is utilized. As seen in Figs. l and 4, this air valve mechanism may be judiciously mounted upon the end panel I0 of the machine. The valve structure includes a solenoid 18 at one end to which a line conductor 19 and another conductor 80 are connected. The conductor 80 may be connected with the opposite line conductor 8| by means of a switch 82 which is in the general form of a push button or microswitch that only establishes a closing of the circuit when something presses against the switch, and the circuit is automatically opened upon release of the pressure on the switch. At the opposite end of the structure is a similar solenoid 88 connected to the line conductor 18 by means of, a conductor 84, and to which another conductor 85 establishes connection with line conductor 8| through a switch 89 of the same character as the switch 92.l

The two solenoids 18 and 88 are provided with cores or armatures 81 and 88, respectively, which bear against the opposite ends of a piston shaft 89 that extends entirely through a housing 90.

Inside the valve housing 90 the shaft 99 carries a pair of spaced pistons 9| and 92 which may reciprocate back and forth within a cylinder 88 that is of larger diameter than the shaft 89. 'I'he air line 55 communicates with the cylinder 93 by way of a passage 94 in the block, and spaced from that passage 94 is a passage 95 establishing communication to the atmosphere. Likewise, the air line 54 communicates with the cylinder by way of a passage 96 and spaced from that passage is another passage 91 communicating with the atmosphere. Actuating cams 98 and 99 for the respective switches 82 and 86 are fixed to the aforesaid drive shaft i2 of the machine and disposed in proper angular relationship for the successive actuation of these switches. A line |00 connected to any suitable source of compressed air communicates with the cylinder 93 by way of a passage |0| between the two pistons 9| and 92.

As the structure is viewed in Fig. 7, the solenoid 83 has been last actuated by means of the cam 99 and switch 86, and the core of the solenoid 88 has pushed the shaft 89 to the left so that the fluid line 54 is in communication with the atmosphere through the passages 96 and 91, thus permitting air to escape from the right end of the piston cylinder 5 I. This same movement resulted in connecting the iluid line with the compressed air line |00 by way of passages |0| and 94, the communication to atmosphere through the passage 95 being blocked oil by the piston 9|, thus compressed air passing through the line 55 has forced the piston 52 to the right as shown in full lines in this figure.

Now, assuming that the next decalcomania has arrived in applying position, the cam 98 will temporarily close the switch 82, thus energizing solehold 18 causing a movement of the shaft 89 in the reverse direction thus establishing communication with the atmosphere with fluid line 55 through passages 94 and 95, and at the same time connecting the fluid pressure line |00 with the line 54 through passages |0| and 96, the atmosphere passage 91 now being blocked olf by piston 92. Thus, the cylinder 52 is caused to travel to the left and assume the dotted line position seen in Fig. 6 thus removing the section 2a. from the bottom piece of the composite decalcomania strip. The piston 52 will remain in the outer position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 until the cam 99 closes the switch 8S and causes the structure to assume the position seen in Eig. 7.

Immediately after the switch 82 has been closed and the air valve actuated to cause removal of the strip section 3a as above explained, another cam |02 viixed to the shaft |2 temporarily opens an air valve |03 in the compressed air line 91 thus causing the decalcomania to be blown into proper position on the bottle 1| or other object. 'Ihe valve |03 is also of the push button type and. is temporarily opened as the tip of the cam- |02 contacts it. Immediately after the opening of the air valve |03', the dog 29 advances the strip 6 suill'ciently to bring the next decalcomina into applying position.

In operation, the present invention is extremely simple, rapid, and accurate. A bottle Ilor other object may be placed in its cradle by any suitable means not forming a part of this invention. The dog 29 of the drive shaft I2 contacting a pin of the sprocket 20 advances the composite decalcomania strip to bring a decalcomania in applying position. Then the cam 08 closes the switch 62 causing the removal oi' the section 3a from the decalcomania strip. Contemporaneously with the removal of this section of the strip, or immediately thereafter, the object carriage rises and the plate 59 descends bringing the resilient bushing 68 into sealing engagement with the decalcomania and at the same time severing the useful part of the decalcomania. Almost simultaneously with this operation, the cam |02 opens the air valve |03 and causes a blast of airto properly seat and smooth the decalcomania upon the bottle. Shortlythereafter, the cam 99 by closing the switchA 86 restores mechanism for removing the strip section 3a tooriginal position by reciprocating the piston 52 in the opposite direction. At this point, the gripping plate 50 carried on the piston shanks 46-46 delays in following the gripper plate 56 connected to the piston 52 suillciently to permit the removed section 3a to gravitate in any suitable waste receptacle. During this operation, the object carriage is lowered and the block 42 and plate 59 are raised by the eccentrics on the shafts |9-I9 to permit the composite decalcomania strip to again advance to bring up the next decalcomania for application. As the decalcomania strip enters the machine, it is moistened by the liquid applying roll 36 and between the time the strip contacts the roll 36 and the same point of the strip reaches applying position the moisture has had opportunity to penetrate the lower protective part of the decalcomania strip and thus release it from the upper part and from the decalcomania so that the sections 3a may be successively removed.

During the operation of the machine, it is not necessary for the operator to touch anything, no instrumentality whatever comes in contact with the decalcomania itself, and the decalcomania is simultaneously applied to the object and smoothed thereon by a forceful blast of air. Consequently the decalcomania is applied with equal facility and rapidity to substantially any desired object, regardless of the hardness or shape of that object. Obviously, the machine may have parts duplicated so that decalcomanias may be applied singly, or in groups of two, three, four, or substantially any desired number at a single operation. As the machine is illustrated, a decalcomania is applied at every revolution of the drive shaft. Further, the machine is very economical to operate and is highly durable.

It will, of course, be understoodthat various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose'to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening, strip carrying and feeding means including a rectilinear guide and intermittent feed mechanism moving the strip therealong, article holding means on one side of the strip including means engaging and holding the article stationary, and fluid pressure means on the opposite side oi the strip from the holding means including air coniining means arranged to discharge a blast o! air directly against the full surface of the decalcomania, to successively force the decalcomanias bodily through the respective openings in the strip onto articles supported by said holding means.

2. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein-with a decalcomania over each opening, strip carrying means, article holding means adjacent the strip, and applying means opposite the article holding means t'o apply decalcomanias through the respective openings in said strip to articles supported by said holding means, said applying means including a housing dening a chamber open at one side, said housing having a projecting cutting edge to enter the opening in the strip and sever the respective decalcomania before application to an article.

3. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening, strip carrying means, article holding means adjacent the strip, and applying means opposite the article holding means to apply decalcomanias through the respective openings in said strip to articles supported by said holding means, a resilient collar carried by said applying means to contact the strip and eiIect a seal around a decalcomania, means to move said collar into contact with the strip, and means to expel a blast of compressed air inside said collar to blow the decalcomania onto an article.

4. In a machine i'or applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening, strip carrying means, article holding means adjacent the strip, and applying means opposite the article holding means to apply decalcomanias through .the respective openings in said strip to articles supported by said holding means, a resilient collar carried by said applying means to contact the strip and effect a seal around a decalcomania, means to move said collar into `contact with the strip, and means to expel a blast of compressed air inside said collar to blow the decalcomania onto an article, said collar having a border and projecting inner edge to initially sever the decalcomania by entering the respective opening in the strip.

5. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening, strip carrying means, article holding means adjacent the strip, and applying means opposite the article holding means to apply decalcomanias through the respective openings in said strip to articles supported by said holding means, a resilient collar carried by said applying means to contact the strip and eilect a seal around a decalcomania, means to move both the article holding means with a carried article and said collar towards the strip from'opposite sides to grip the ll strip therebetween contemporaneously with the application of a decalcomania, and means to expel iluid under pressure inside said collar to apply the decalcomania to the article.

6. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip including an upper piece having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening and a lower piece divided into sections to which the decalcomanias are adhered, with each section having a tab projecting laterally beyond the upper piece, feeding means to advance the strip along a predetermined path, moistening means to wet the lower piece of the strip, gripping means spaced from said moistening means to engage one of the tabs and remove a section of the lower piece of the strip, and applying means acting through the opening in the upper piece to apply a decalcomania to an article.

7. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip including an upper piece having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening and a lower piece divided into sections to which the decalcomanias are adhered, with each section having a tab projecting laterally beyond the upper piece, feeding means to advance the strip along a predetermined path, moistening means to wet the lower piece of the strip, a share along said path to successively bend the tabs on the lower strip sections, gripping members to engage a bent tab and carry the respective section away from the strip, means to delay the return movement of one of said members to permit the removed section to drop, and applying means to attach a decalcomania to an article after the corresponding strip section has been removed.

8. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip including an upper piece having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening and a lower piece divided into sections to which the decalcomanias are adhered, with each section having a tab pro- Jecting laterally beyond the upper piece, feeding means to advance the strip along a predetermined path, moistening means to wet the lower piece of the strip, a share along said path to successively bend the tabs on the lower strip `sections, gripping members to engage a bent tab and carry the respective section away from the strip, means to delay the return movement of one of said members to permit the removed section to drop, article holding means arranged to move an article toward the strip when the section has been removed, and applying means movable toward the strip from the opposite side of the strip from said holding means to act through the opening in the strip and apply a decalcomania to the article.

9. In an automatic machine for applying decalcomania to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein with adecalcomania over each opening, a holder for an article to receive a decalcomania, feeding means to advance the strip to successively bring decalcomanias adjacent an article on said holder, collar means to contact the strip and establish a seal around a decalcomania,

and fluid pressure means to discharge a iluid blast inside said collar means and bodily expel the decalcomania through its respective opening onto the article carried by said holder.

10. In an automatic machine for applying deealcomanias to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening, a holder for an article to receive a dein the strip.

11. In an automatic machine for applying decalcomania to articles from a strip having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening, a holder for an article to receive a decalcomania, feeding means to advance the strip to successively 'bring decalcomanias adlacent an article on said holder, applying means on the opposite side of the strip from said holder embodying a housing defining a chamber open at one side, means to bring the housing into contact with the strip to close said chamber around a decalcomania, and compressed air means communicating with said chamber.

12. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip including an upper piece having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening anda lower piece divided into sections to which the decalcomanias are adhered, feeding means to advance the strip along a predetermined path, moistening means along said path to wet the lower piece of the strip, a holder for an article on one side of said" path remote from said moistening means, gripping means in advance of said holder to engage and laterally withdraw sections of the lower piece of the strip to expose the respective decalcomanias, and applying means opposite said holder to remove an exposed decalcomania from the upper strip piece and apply it to an article carried by said holder.

13. In a machine for applying decalcomanias to articles from a strip including an upper piece having spaced openings therein with a decalcomania over each opening and a lower piece divided into sections to which the decalcomanias are adhered, feeding means to advance the strip along a predetermined path, moistening means along said path to wet the lower piece oi the strip, a holder for an article on one side of said path remote from said moistening means, means in advance of said holder to successively remove sections of the lower piece of the strip to expose the respective decalcomanias, and applying means opposite said holderon the other side of said strip and arranged to discharge a iluid blast on an exposed decalcomania and force it bodily through the respective opening onto an article carried by said holder.

WATSON A. SIMMONDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille o! this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Simmonds July 22, 1947 

